Machine for making wire fabric.



m'msm WITNESSES W, A. KILMER.

MACHINE FOR. MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

Patented Get. $8, 1913.

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' W. A. KILMER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909. flfimfifi L Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

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APPLIUATION FILED NOV i2 9 LWWWL 9 1 Patented 0016.28, 1913.

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INVENTOFI Igl- W. .A. KILMER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909. mmam Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

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WITNES$ES W. A. KILMBR. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909. 1,0763% Patented 001;. 28, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909. LUYfiBSl Patented Got. 28, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

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Patented 0013.28, 1913.

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W. A. KILMER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

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W, A. KILMER. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

m APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909. 1 m HEM 18 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

Patented U013. 28, 1913.

W. A. KILMER. MACHINE FOE MAKING'WIRE FABRIC.

I APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909. ifimfimfl Patented 0015. 28, 1913.

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WITNESSES 1% INVENTOR m. a. msi

A M x W. A. KILMBR. momma FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

Patented @011. 28, 11913.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

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INVENTOH W. A. KILMER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIG.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 29, 1909.

Patented 0st. 28, 1913.

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W. A. KILMER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION rmm 210v. 29, 1909.

1,076,831. Patented 0ct.28,1913.

18 SHEETS-SHEET l8.

WILLIAM A. KILHER, 01 DE RAID, ILLINOIS, ASBIGNOB AND WIRE COMPANY 01' NEW JERSEY, 'I'ION OF NEW JERSEY.

D THE axmcm BT31!- 02 3030338, NEW JERRY. A Q0330- mcnma roe MAKING W nn name.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913'.

Application filed November 29.1809. Serial R0. 530,848.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. KILMnR, of De Kalb, Dekalb county, Illinois, have 1nvented a new and useful achine for Mal;- ing W'ire Fabric, of which the following is a full clcar, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure .1 is a plan View of a machine embodying my invention with portions of the wire guiding mechanism removed; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the machine with the bobbins removed; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sect-ion on the line III-III of Fig. l; Fig- 4 is a longitudinal section on the line lV-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is aplan view showing a portion of the machine and gearing on a larger scale; Fig. 6 1s a lon 'itudlnal vertical section of a port-ion of t e machine showing the shearing mechanism; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the pull-out drum, removed; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing a portion of the pull-out drum and the change gearing for actuating the shear mechanism; Fig. 9 is a detail view of said gearing; Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 12 are .det-ail views showing portions of the shearactuating mechanism as hereinafter -more fully described; Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail views of portions of the gearing; F g. 16 is a detail view showing the reel carrier, and the latch for the same; Fig. 17 is a plan view of a fragment of fabric made by the; machine; Fig. 18 is a side view from the% opposite side of the machlne showing a portion of the gearing which controls the operation of the clutches for the reel; Fig. 19 is a; plan view of the gearing for actuating the reel and its clutches; Figs. 20 and 21 are detail views of a portion of such gearing, Fig. 21 being a section on the line 'XX][-XXI of Fig. 19; Figs. 22 and 23 are detail views of a portion of the gearing which actuates the reel carrier; Fig. 24 is a front View, partly broken away, showing the bobbin-actuating mechanism; Fig. 25 is a vertical section through one of the bobbin spindles and adjacent parts; Fig. 26 is an elevation, partly broken away, of one of the bobbin spindles; and Fig. 27 is a sectional plan view on the line XXVII-XXVII of Fig. 25; Fig. 28 is a plan showing the construction of a portion of the reel mechanism; Fig. 29 is a section on the line XXIX-XXIX of Fig. 28; and Figs. 30,

31 and 32 are detail views of parts of the reel mechanism, hereinafter more fully described.

My invention has relation to machines for making wire fabric, particularly wire fabric for use in reinforcing concrete, and conslstmg of longitudinal strands each of which may be composed of a single wire, orof a pluralityof wires made parallel or twisted together,. and diagonal or mesh wires alter na-tely twisted around the strand, wires in op osite directions.

" y invention is designed to machine for makin ter, by means of w ich such fabric may be made rapidly and in large quantities; and which will automatically shear the fabric into any desired lengths while the fabric is in motion. The invention also comprises means of novel character for continuously reelmgthe sheared lengths of fabric, and mechanlsm whereby a completed coil or spool is automatically swung out of the way and an empty one is placed in position while the fabric is in motion, thus enabling the reel to be unloaded without stopping the machine.

Other features of my invention relate to the novel construction and arrangement of the pull-out drum; to the mechanism for actuating the bobbin carriers and bobbins; to the feed mechanism; to the shear mechanism and the means for actuating the same; and to various other details of construction, combination and arrangement of the parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

For convenience of description the ma chine maybe divided into several main groups of mechanism, as follows :-First. The means for imparting motion to the twisting spindles and bobbins. Second. The pull-outmechanism. Third. The feed rolls and their actuating mechanism. Fourth. The shears and their actuating mechanism. Fifth. The reels and their actuating mechanisms. These several groups of mechanisms will now be specifically described.

The bobbin actuating mechanism-JPN numeral 2 designates a series of guides, and 3 a series of guide rolls (Figs. 2 and 3) over which the series of longitudinal or strand wires 4 are pulled downwardly through the hollow twisting spindles 5 by the action of the pull-out drum, in the manner hereinafter described. 6 designates a provide a fabric of this characsegments 7 and 25 bins, shifting 35 driving shaft of the 40 shaft,19 to a third 5 twisting spindles 5.

seriesof bobbins which are mounted transversely of the machine in two rows at opposite sides of the spindles 5. These bob ms are mounted on the upper and lowerbobbin 8, which are seated between reciprocating shifter bars. The upper shifting bars are designated by the numerals 9 and 10 and the lower shifting bars by the numerals 11 and 12. (Figs. 3, 24, 25 and 1 27.) The lower bobbin segments are provided with the delivery quills 13, through which the strand wires are led. The bobbin segments and bobbins are shifted back and forth to move the bobbins and thereby form 1 the diagonal mesh of the fabric by the reciprocating movement of the shifting bars 9, 10, 11 and 12 in a manner presently to be described, and the spindles 5 are arranged to rotate the bobbin segments and bobbins 2 at the proper times by means of pinions 14. One of these pinions is secured to each of the spindles 5, and is ac uated by rec procating rack bar 15.

The particular arrangement of the bobbars and twisting spindles invention, this mechaform no part of. my

what has heretofore nism being similar to been used in the manufacture of the well' known Ellwood 30, however, comprises fabric. My invention,

ment of gearing and actuating devices or the shifting bars, and for the twisting spindles, which will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 1, 16 designates the main machine, upon which is mounte the fast and loose driving pulleys 17 and 18. The motion of the main shaft 16 is transmitted to a second shaft 19 through the gears 20 and 21, and from the shaft 22 through the gears 23 and 24. The shaft 22 is connected by change gears 25 and 26 with the shaft 27, which is connected by gears 27 with the shaft of the pull-out drum 59. The shaf'u 4*. 19 also carries a bevel gear 28, which meshes with a similar gear 29 on a transverse shaft 30. Mounted on the shaft 30 is an eccentric pinion 31 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 14) which meshes with an elliptical gear 32 on a shaft 50- 33. Fastened to this shaft 33 are two crank arms 34 and 35 (see Figs. 1 and 13). The crank arm 34 imparts motion to a star wheel 36 on a shaft 37; and the crank arm 35 imparts motion to another star wheel 38 on a 55 shaft 39. Fastened to the star wheel 36 is a spur gear wheel 40, which meshes with a pinion 41 on a shaft 42. Secured to the shaft 42 is a crank disk 43 (see Fig. 2), to the crank pin of which is connected a so pitman 44. The opposite end of this pitman is connected to a cross-head 45 sliding in guides 46, and this cross-head is in turn connected to the rack bar 15, which, as above described, engages the pinlons on the hollow (See Fig. 24.) When a certain novel arran ethe roller at the end of the crank arm 34 reaches one of the recesses 36" in the star wheel 36, it causes this wheel to turn .onesixth of a revolution,'and through the gears 40 and 41 turns the crank disk 43 a one-half revolution, thereby causing the bobbins to revolve the desired number of times around Secured to the star wheel 38 is a gear wheel 47 (see Fig. 13) which meshes with a pinion 48 on a shaft 49. Secured to this shaft 49 is a crank disk 50 (see Fig. 2) which is connected by a pitman 51 with a cross-head 52 sliding in guides 53. This cross head is connected to the lower bobbin shifting bar 11. Each pairof bobbin shifting bars has a rack 54 on its inner surface, these racks engaging opposite sides of toothed pinions 55 and 56 on a vertical shaft 57 (see Figs. 1, 2, 24 and 27). The shifter bars are arranged to reciprocate in the upper and lower guides 58. After the the strand wires.

bobbins have been given the required number of revolutions, as before described, the roller on the end of'the crank arm 35 engages one of the recesses 38 in star gear 38, and through the gears 47 and 48 and shaft 49, turns the crank disk 50 a one-half revolut' on. thereby causing two of the bobbin shiftg slides to move forward, and the other two slidesto move backward, carrying with them the bobbins so as to form the mesh. As soon as this has been done, the crank disk 43 is given another half turn in the same direction as before, causing the spindles 5 to revolve, but in the opposite direction. The crank disk 50 makes one-half turn for each revolution of the crank arm 35, and as this crank disk is turned always in one direction, it reverses the direction of slides for each revolution. The longitudinal spacing of the mesh wires is accomplished by regulating the speed of the pull-out drum by means of the change gears 25 and 26.

The pull-out mechanism.-59 designates the pull-out drum, which is driven through the gear connections with the main driving shaft 16 in the manner before described. This drum, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 7, is of cylinder form, and carries a plurality of series of grippers, which are arranged to grip each strand wire alternately and independently. These grippers are arranged in longitudinal radial lines equally spaced about the periphery of the drum, and consist each of a stationary jaw 60 and a mov able jaw 61. Each movable jaw is pivoted to the drum at 62, and has an inwardly extending arm 63 which engages a spring 64 on an endwise movable shaft or rod 65. A series of these shafts 65 is provided within the drum and supported in suitable bearings an anti-friction roller 

